Generation of high-resolution image based on multiple low-resolution images

ABSTRACT

The procedure of the present invention estimates a correction rate for elimination of a positional shift between the multiple first images, executes correction with the estimated correction rate to eliminate the positional shift between the multiple first images, and combines the multiple corrected first images to generate the second image. The procedure selects a target pixel among pixels included in the second image, and detects multiple adjacent pixels respectively in the multiple first images, which adjoin to the selected target pixel. The procedure then selects an image as a composition object or a composition object image with regard to the target pixel among the multiple first images according to the multiple adjacent pixels, and calculates a pixel value of the target pixel based on the composition object image. The procedure excludes the first image that includes a certain adjacent pixel out of the multiple adjacent pixels, which is detected to have a motion relative to one base image selected among the multiple first images, from the composition object image with regard to the target pixel. This arrangement of the invention enables generation of a high-resolution still image by taking into account motions of image parts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a technique of generating ahigh-resolution image from multiple low-resolution images.

2. Description of the Related Art

The user of a digital video camera (hereafter may simply be referred toas ‘video camera’) often demands to capture one scene or frame duringreproduction of a moving picture and generate a higher-resolution imagethan the resolution of the image of the captured frame (hereafterreferred to as the ‘frame image’). Here the terminology ‘resolution’means the density of pixels or the number of pixels included in oneimage.

One typical method of generating the higher-resolution image combinesmultiple low-resolution images. Combination of multiple low-resolutionimages is expected to enhance the quality of a resulting compositeimage, compared with simple resolution conversion of only one image.

For example, a proposed technique in Japanese Patent Laid-Open GazetteNo. 2000-244851 selects one frame image as a base frame image among(n+1) consecutive frame images, computes motion vectors of the residualn frame images (subject frame images) relative to the base frame image,and combines the (n+1) frame images based on the computed motion vectorsto generate one high-resolution image.

Images of multiple frames included in the moving picture may have a‘positional shift’ or a ‘motion’. Here the ‘positional shift’ representsa positional change between multiple frames that is eliminated byuniformly moving the whole image, for example, an image shift due to anunintentional hand movement. The ‘motion’ mainly represents movement ofa certain subject in the image, that is, a local change in the image.The motion includes both a direct movement of a subject, such as aperson or an automobile, and a relative movement of the subject due to aparallax caused by a moving camera.

The prior art technique gives consideration to the motion between themultiple frames in the moving picture (corresponding to the ‘positionalshift’) but does not take into account the motion in the moving picture.A resulting composite image may accordingly have an undesirable imageoverlap of an identical image part with motions. There is accordingly ademand to generate a high-resolution still image from multiplelow-resolution frame images included in a moving picture without causingany image overlap of an identical image part with motions.

This problem is not intrinsic to composition of multiple low-resolutionimages included in a moving picture but is generally found incomposition of multiple low-resolution images arrayed in a time series.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the invention is thus to eliminate the drawbacks of theprior art technique and to provide a technique of generating ahigh-resolution still image from multiple low-resolution images withoutcausing any image overlap of an identical image part with motions.

In order to attain at least part of the above and the other relatedobjects, the invention executes a series of processing to generate arelatively high-resolution second image from multiple relativelylow-resolution first images. The processing flow estimates a correctionrate for elimination of a positional shift between the multiple firstimages, executes correction with the estimated correction rate toeliminate the positional shift between the multiple first images, andcombines the multiple corrected first images to generate the secondimage. The invention executes a series of processing to generate thesecond image. The processing flow selects a target pixel among pixelsincluded in the second image, and detects multiple adjacent pixelsrespectively in the multiple first images, which adjoin to the selectedtarget pixel. The processing flow then selects an image as a compositionobject or a composition object image with regard to the target pixelamong the multiple first images according to the multiple adjacentpixels, and calculates a pixel value of the target pixel based on thecomposition object image. The processing flow excludes the first imagethat includes a certain adjacent pixel out of the multiple adjacentpixels, which is detected to have a motion relative to one base imageselected among the multiple first images, from the composition objectimage with regard to the target pixel.

The technique of the invention excludes the first image including thepixel with motion from the composition object for generation of thesecond image from the multiple first images. This arrangement ensuresgeneration of the relatively high-resolution second image from themultiple relatively low-resolution first images without causing anyimage overlap of an identical image part with motions.

It is preferable that the multiple first images are multiple imagesextracted from a moving picture and arrayed in a time series.

The relatively high-resolution second image is thus readily generatedfrom the multiple relatively low-resolution first images included in themoving picture.

The first images may be frame images or field images. The frame imagerepresents a still image expressible in a progressive system (that is,in a non-interlacing system). The field images include still images ofodd fields and even fields to constitute an image in an interlacingsystem, which corresponds to the frame image in the non-interlacingsystem.

A first available procedure calculates pixel values of the respectivepixels in the following manner to generate the second image. The firstprocedure sequentially selects an adjacent pixel that is not included inthe base image among the multiple adjacent pixels in an order closer tothe target pixel and detects motion or no motion of the selected pixelrelative to the base image. When the first image including a nearestpixel having a shortest distance to the target pixel among the multipleadjacent pixels is the base image, the procedure calculates the pixelvalue of the target pixel based on the base image. The procedurecalculates the pixel value of the target pixel based on the first imageincluding the selected pixel detected as a pixel with no motion by themotion detection, while calculating the pixel value of the target pixelbased on the base image when every selected adjacent pixel is detectedas a pixel with motion by the motion detection.

The first available procedure of generating the second imagesequentially selects the adjacent pixel that is not included in the baseimage among the multiple adjacent pixels in the order closer to thetarget pixel and detects motion or no motion of the selected pixelrelative to the base image. The procedure calculates the pixel value ofthe target pixel based on the first image including one adjacent pixeldetected as the pixel with no motion, even when another adjacent pixelis detected as the pixel with motion. This arrangement is thus expectedto enhance the quality of the resulting second image.

A second available procedure calculates pixel values of the respectivepixels in the following manner to generate the second image. The secondprocedure sequentially selects an adjacent pixel that is not included inthe base image among the multiple adjacent pixels in a preset order anddetects motion or no motion of the selected pixel relative to the baseimage. The procedure calculates the pixel value of the target pixelbased on the base image when the selected pixel is detected as a pixelwith motion by the motion detection, while calculating the pixel valueof the target pixel based on the first image including a nearest pixelto the target pixel among the multiple adjacent pixels when everyselected adjacent pixel is detected as a pixel with no motion by themotion detection.

The second available procedure of generating the second imagesequentially selects the adjacent pixel that is not included in the baseimage among the multiple adjacent pixels in the preset order and detectsmotion or no motion of the selected pixel relative to the base image.The procedure calculates the pixel value of the target pixel based onthe base image, in the case of detection of the selected pixel as thepixel with motion. This arrangement thus more effectively prevents theoccurrence of an image overlap of an identical image part with motions,compared with the first procedure discussed above.

A third available procedure calculates pixel values of the respectivepixels in the following manner to generate the second image. The thirdprocedure sequentially selects an adjacent pixel that is included in aspecific first image other than the base image, among the multipleadjacent pixels and detects motion or no motion of the selected pixelrelative to the base image. The procedure calculates the pixel value ofthe target pixel based on the base image when the selected pixel isdetected as a pixel with motion by the motion detection, whilecalculating the pixel value of the target pixel based on the first imageincluding a nearest pixel to the target pixel among the multipleadjacent pixels when the selected pixel is detected as a pixel with nomotion by the motion detection.

The third available procedure of generating the second imagesequentially selects the adjacent pixel that is not included in the baseimage among the multiple adjacent pixels and detects motion or no motionof the selected pixel relative to the base image. The procedurecalculates the pixel value of the target pixel based on the base image,in the case of detection of the selected pixel as the pixel with motion.This arrangement thus more effectively prevents the occurrence of animage overlap of an identical image part with motions, compared with thefirst procedure discussed above. The third procedure selects theadjacent pixel that is included in the specific first image other thanthe base image among the multiple adjacent pixels. This arrangementdesirably shortens the total processing time required for the motiondetection, compared with the first procedure and the second procedurediscussed above.

One preferable method of the motion detection detects the selected pixelas the pixel with no motion when a luminance value of the selected pixelis within a predetermined range relative to an estimated luminancevalue, which is calculated from luminance values of multiple nearbypixels in the base image surrounding the selected pixel, while detectingthe selected pixel as the pixel with motion when the luminance value ofthe selected pixel is out of the predetermined range. This methodensures the easy motion detection.

The predetermined range may have a fixed span set about the estimatedluminance value. The predetermined range may vary corresponding to atime difference of the first image including the selected pixel relativeto the base image. Namely the no motion detection range, where theselected pixel is detected as the pixel with no motion, is variedcorresponding to the time difference of the first image including theselected pixel relative to the base image. An image having a greatertime difference from the base image is generally expected to have a moresignificant level of motion. Narrowing the predetermined range set forthe motion detection of the pixel included in the first image having thegreater time difference from the base image reduces the effect of themotion to a greater extent on the resulting second image.

The predetermined range may alternatively have a fixed span between aminimum luminance value and a maximum luminance value out of theluminance values of the multiple nearby pixels in the base imagesurrounding the selected pixel.

The predetermined range may otherwise vary depending upon a position ofthe selected pixel relative to the multiple nearby pixels in the baseimage surrounding the selected pixel.

Another preferable method of the motion detection computes an estimatedposition of a pixel having a luminance value that is calculated fromluminance values of multiple nearby pixels in the base image surroundingthe selected pixel and is identical with a luminance value of theselected pixel, and detects the selected pixel as the pixel with nomotion when a distance between a position of the selected pixel and theestimated position is within a predetermined range, while detecting theselected pixel as the pixel with motion when the distance between theposition of the selected pixel and the estimated position is out of thepredetermined range. This method also ensures the easy motion detection.

The predetermined range may have a fixed span about the estimatedposition with setting of a variation in estimated position, which variescorresponding to the positional shift, as a threshold value.

The technique of the invention is actualized by any of the diverseapplications given below:

-   -   (1) image generation methods, image processing methods, and        image data generation methods;    -   (2) image generation apparatuses, image processing apparatuses,        and image data generation apparatuses;    -   (3) computer programs that attain any of the above apparatuses        and methods;    -   (4) recording media in which such computer programs for        attaining any of the above apparatuses and methods are recorded;        and    -   (5) data signals that include such computer programs for        attaining any of the above apparatuses and methods and are        embodied in carrier waves.

In the applications of the computer programs and the recording media inwhich the computer programs are recorded, each computer program may beconstructed as a whole program of controlling the operations of thestill image generation apparatus or as a partial program of exertingonly the essential functions of the invention. Typical examples of therecording media include flexible disks, CD-ROMs, DVD-ROMs and DVD-RAMs,magneto-optical disks, IC cards, ROM cartridges, punched cards, printswith barcodes or other codes printed thereon, internal storage devices(memories, such as RAMs and ROMs) and external storage devices of thecomputer, and diversity of other computer readable media.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the configuration of a still imagegeneration apparatus in one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an explanatory drawing showing a still image data generationprocess;

FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing showing a positional shift of a subjectframe image in a subject frame relative to a base frame image in a baseframe;

FIG. 4 is an explanatory drawing showing correction executed toeliminate the positional shift of the subject frame image relative tothe base frame image;

FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing showing correction rates of a subjectframe image relative to a base frame image;

FIGS. 6(A) and 6(B) are explanatory drawings showing estimation oftranslational correction rates by the gradient method;

FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing showing a rotational correction rate ofa pixel;

FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing showing superposition of correctedsubject frame images F1 to F3 on a base frame image F0 after eliminationof the positional shift;

FIG. 9 is an explanatory drawing showing interpolation by the bilinearmethod;

FIG. 10 is an explanatory drawing showing a potential problem of motionnon-follow-up composition in the case of a significant level of motionsbetween multiple frame images;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the details of a motion follow-upcomposition process;

FIG. 12 is an explanatory drawing showing setting for description ofmotion detection methods;

FIG. 13 is an explanatory drawing showing a first motion detectionmethod;

FIGS. 14(A) and 14(B) are explanatory drawings showing a variation in nomotion detection range against a time difference ‘m’;

FIG. 15 is an explanatory drawing showing a second motion detectionmethod;

FIG. 16 is an explanatory drawing showing a third motion detectionmethod;

FIG. 17 is an explanatory drawing showing a fourth motion detectionmethod;

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the details of a motion follow-upcomposition process executed in a second embodiment of the invention;and

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the details of a motion follow-upcomposition process executed in a third embodiment of the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Some modes of carrying out the invention are described below aspreferred embodiments in the following sequence:

-   A. Configuration of Still Image Generation Apparatus-   B. Procedure of Still Image Generation-   C. Correction Rate Estimation Process    -   C1. Outline of Positional Shift Correction    -   C2. Method of Estimating Correction Rates-   D. Motion Follow-Up Composition Process of First Embodiment    -   D1. Outline and Potential Problem of Motion Non-Follow-Up        Composition    -   D2. Procedure of Motion Follow-Up Composition-   E. Motion Detection    -   E1. Motion Detection Method 1    -   E2. Motion Detection Method 2    -   E3. Motion Detection Method 3    -   E4. Motion Detection Method 4    -   E5. Motion Detection Method 5-   F. Motion Follow-Up Composition Process of Second Embodiment-   G. Motion Follow-Up Composition Process of Third Embodiment-   H. Modifications    A. Configuration of Still Image Generation Apparatus

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates the configuration of a still imagegeneration apparatus in one embodiment of the invention. The still imagegeneration apparatus is constructed by a general-purpose personalcomputer 100 and is connected with a keyboard 120 and a mouse 130 asinformation input devices and a display 110 and a printer 20 asinformation output devices. The still image generation apparatus is alsoconnected with a digital video camera 30 and a CD-R/RW drive 140 toinput image data representing moving pictures (hereafter referred to as‘moving picture data’) to the computer 100. The device of inputting themoving picture data is not restricted to the CD-R/RW drive but may be aDVD drive and any other drive units of reading data from diversity ofinformation storage media.

The computer 100 executes an application program of generating stillimages under a preset operating system to function as the still imagegeneration apparatus. As illustrated, the computer 100 exerts thefunctions of a still image generation control module 102, a frame imageacquisition module 104, a correction rate estimation module 106, and amotion follow-up composition module 108.

The still image generation control module 102 controls the respectivedevices to generally regulate the still image generation operations. Forexample, in response to the user's entry of a video reproduction commandfrom the keyboard 120 or the mouse 130, the still image generationcontrol module 102 reads moving picture data from a CD-RW set in theCD-R/RW drive 140, the digital video camera 30, or a hard disk (notshown) into an internal memory (not shown). The moving picture dataincludes image data of multiple frames respectively representing stillimages (hereafter referred to as ‘frame image data’). The still imagesexpressed by the frame image data of respective frames are successivelyshown on the display 110 via a video driver, so that a moving picture isreproduced on the display 110. The still image generation control module102 controls the operations of the frame image acquisition module 104,the correction rate estimation module 106, and the motion follow-upcomposition module 108 to generate high-resolution image datarepresenting a still image (hereafter referred to as ‘still image data’)from low-resolution frame image data of multiple frames, as describedbelow. The still image generation control module 102 also controls theprinter 20 via a printer driver to print the generated still image data.

B. Still Image Generation Process

FIG. 2 is an explanatory drawing showing a still image data generationprocess. In response to the user's entry of a frame image dataacquisition command from the keyboard 120 or the mouse 130 duringreproduction of a moving picture, the frame image acquisition module 104obtains frame image data of multiple consecutive frames in a time seriesamong the moving picture data (step S2). For example, the procedure ofthis embodiment obtains frame image data of four consecutive frames in atime series after the input timing of the frame image data acquisitioncommand. The multiple frame image data obtained by the frame imageacquisition module 104 are stored in a storage device (not shown), suchas the memory or the hard disk.

The frame image data consists of tone data (pixel data) representingtone values (pixel values) of respective pixels in a dot matrix. Thepixel data may be YCbCr data of Y (luminance), Cb (blue colordifference), and Cr (red color difference) components or RGB data of R(red), G (green), and B (blue) color components.

In response to the user's entry of a still image generation command fromthe keyboard 120 or the mouse 130, the procedure starts a still imagedata generation process.

The correction rate estimation module 106 estimates correction rates toeliminate positional shifts between the obtained four consecutive frames(step S4). The correction rate estimation process specifies one frameamong the four consecutive frames as a base frame and the other threeframes as subject frames and estimates correction rates to eliminatepositional shifts of the respective subject frames relative to the baseframe. The procedure of this embodiment specifies an initial frameobtained first in response to the user's entry of the frame image dataacquisition command as the base frame and the three consecutive framesobtained successively in the time series as the subject frames.

The motion follow-up composition module 108 corrects the frame imagedata of the four consecutive frames with the estimated correction ratesand combines the corrected frame image data of the four consecutiveframes to generate still image data (step S6). The motion follow-upcomposition module 108 detects ‘motions’ or ‘no motions’ between therespective frames and generates still image data according to theresults of the motion detection.

The details of the correction rate estimation process and the details ofthe motion follow-up composition process are described below.

C. Correction Rate Estimation Process

C1. Outline of Positional Shift Correction

FIG. 3 is an explanatory drawing showing a positional shift of a subjectframe image in a subject frame relative to a base frame image in a baseframe. FIG. 4 is an explanatory drawing showing correction executed toeliminate the positional shift of the subject frame image relative tothe base frame image.

In the description below, a number (frame number) ‘a’ (a=0,1,2,3) isallocated to each of the obtained four consecutive frames. A frame ‘a’represents a frame with the frame number ‘a’ allocated thereto. An imagein the frame ‘a’ is called a frame image Fa. For example, the frame withthe frame number ‘a’=0 is a frame 0 and the image in the frame 0 is aframe image F0. The frame 0 is the base frame and frames 1 to 3 are thesubject frames. The frame image F0 in the base frame is the base frameimage, while frame images F1 to F3 in the subject frames are the subjectframe images.

FIGS. 3 and 4 respectively show a positional shift of the subject frameimage F3 among the subject frame images F1 to F3 relative to the baseframe image F0 and correction executed to eliminate the positionalshift.

A positional shift of the image is expressed by a combination oftranslational (lateral and vertical) shifts and a rotational shift. Forthe clear and better understanding of a positional shift of the subjectframe image F3 relative to the base frame image F0, the boundary of thesubject frame image F3 is superposed on the boundary of the base frameimage F0 in FIG. 3. A virtual cross image X0 is added on the centerposition of the base frame image F0. On the assumption that the crossimage X0 is shifted in the same manner as the subject frame image F3, ashifted cross image X3 is added on the subject frame image F3. For theclarity of illustration, the base frame image F0 and the virtual crossimage X0 are shown by thick solid lines, whereas the subject frame imageF3 and the shifted cross image X3 are shown by the thin broken lines.

In this embodiment, translational shifts in the lateral direction and inthe vertical direction are respectively represented by ‘um’ and ‘vm’,and a rotational shift is represented by ‘δm’. The positional shifts ofthe subject frame images Fa (a=1,2,3) are accordingly expressed as‘uma’, ‘vma’, and ‘δma’. In the illustrated example of FIG. 3, thesubject frame image F3 has translational shifts and a rotational shiftrelative to the base frame image F0, which are expressed as ‘um3’,‘vm3’, and ‘δm3’.

Prior to composition of the subject frame images F1 to F3 with the baseframe image F0, correction of positional differences of respectivepixels included in the subject frame images F1 to F3 is required toeliminate the positional shifts of the subject frame images F1 to F3relative to the base frame image F0. Translational correction rates inthe lateral direction and in the vertical direction are respectivelyrepresented by ‘u’ and ‘v’, and a rotational correction rate isrepresented by ‘δ’. The correction rates of the subject frame images Fa(a=1,2,3) are accordingly expressed as ‘ua’, ‘va’, and ‘δa’. Forexample, correction rates of the subject frame image F3 are expressed as‘u3’, ‘v3’, and ‘δ3’.

The terminology ‘correction’ here means that the position of each pixelincluded in each subject frame image Fa (a=1,2,3) is moved by a distance‘ua’ in the lateral direction, a distance ‘va’ in the verticaldirection, and a rotation angle ‘δa’. The correction rates ‘ua’, ‘va’,and ‘δa’of the subject frame image Fa (a=1,2,3) are thus expressed byequations ‘ua=−uma’, ‘va=−vma’, and ‘δa=−δma’. For example, thecorrection rates ‘u3’, ‘v3’, and ‘δ3’ of the subject frame image F3 areexpressed by equations ‘u3=−um3’, ‘v3=−vm3’, and ‘δ3=−δm3’.

The correction process of FIG. 4 corrects the position of each pixelincluded in the subject frame image F3 with the correction rates ‘u3’,‘v3’, and ‘δ3’ to eliminate the positional shift of the subject frameimage F3 relative to the base frame image F0. FIG. 4 shows superpositionof the corrected subject frame image F3 over the base frame image F0 onthe display 110. The corrected subject frame image F3 partly matcheswith the base frame image F0. For the better understanding of the resultof the correction, the virtual cross images X0 and X3 used in FIG. 3 arealso added on the display of FIG. 4. The correction results ineliminating the positional difference between the two virtual crossimages X0 and X3 and perfectly matching the positions of the two virtualcross images X0 and X3 with each other as clearly seen in FIG. 4.

In a similar manner, the correction process corrects the other subjectframe images F1 and F2 with the correction rates ‘u1’, ‘v1’, and ‘δ1’and ‘u2’, ‘v2’, and ‘δ2’ to move the positions of the respective pixelsincluded in the subject frame images F1 and F2.

The expression ‘partly match’ is used here because of the followingreason. In the illustrated example of FIG. 4, a hatched image area P1 ispresent only in the subject frame image F3, and the base frame image F0does not have a corresponding image area. The positional shift causes animage area that is present only in the base frame image F0 or that ispresent only in the subject frame image F3. The correction can thus notperfectly match the subject frame image F3 with the base frame image F0but gives only a partial matching effect.

The correction rate estimation module 106 (see FIG. 1) computes thecorrection rates ‘ua’, ‘va’, and ‘δa’ of the respective subject frameimages Fa (a=1,2,3) as estimated values from the image data of the baseframe image F0 and the image data of the subject frame images F1 to F3according to preset calculation formulae of, for example, the patternmatching method or the gradient method. The computed correction rates‘ua’, ‘va’, and ‘δa’are stored as translational correction rate data androtational correction rate data in a predetermined area of the memory(not shown). The method of estimating the correction rates is describedin detail below.

C2. Method of Estimating Correction Rates

FIG. 5 is an explanatory drawing showing correction rates of a subjectframe image relative to a base frame image. In this illustrated example,a corrected subject frame image Ft is superposed over a base frame imageFr after elimination of translational shifts and a rotational shift.Orthogonal coordinates (x2,y2) having an axis x2 in the lateraldirection and an axis y2 in the vertical direction from the center ofthe subject frame image Ft as the origin are deviated from orthogonalcoordinates (x1,y1) having an axis x1 in the lateral direction and anaxis y1 in the vertical direction from the center of the base frameimage Fr as the origin. A translational correction rate in the lateraldirection, a translational correction rate in the vertical direction,and a rotational correction rate about the center of the subject frameimage Ft as the origin are respectively expressed by u, v, and δ.Conversion equations of converting the coordinates on the subject frameimage Ft into the coordinates on the base frame image Fr are givenbelow, where the translational correction rates (u,v) and the rotationalcorrection rate δ are variables:x1=cos δ·(x2+u)−sin δ·(y2+v)  (1)y1=sin δ·(x2+u)+cos δ·(y2+v)  (2)

There is a very little time difference between the base frame and thesubject frame, so that δ is assumed to be a very little quantity. Suchassumption gives cos δ≈1 and sin δ≈δ and enables the above equations tobe rewritten as:x1=(x2+u)−δ·(y2+v)  (3)y1=δ·(x2+u)+(y2+v)  (4)

The positional shift between the subject frame image Ft and the baseframe image Fr is to be eliminated prior to superposition of the subjectframe image Ft over the base frame image Fr. For the purpose ofelimination of the positional shift, the coordinate data of each pixelincluded in the subject frame image Ft is converted into the coordinatedata on the base frame image Fr according to Equations (3) and (4) givenabove.

The variables U, V, and δ in Equations (3) and (4) are estimated frompixel values (pixel data) of corresponding pixels in the base frameimage Fr and in the subject frame image Ft, for example, tone values ofluminance (luminance values), by application of the gradient method(this estimates the position of each pixel in a smaller unit than theunit of one pixel) and the least square method.

FIG. 6 is an explanatory drawing showing estimation of the translationalcorrection rates by the gradient method. FIG. 6(A) shows pixels andtheir luminance values of the base frame image Fr and the subject frameimage Ft. In the illustrated example of FIG. 6(A), (x1i,y1i) representscoordinates of a certain pixel on the base frame image Fr, andB1(x1i,y1i) represents the luminance value of the certain pixel, where‘i’ denotes a numeral allocated to each pixel for the purpose ofidentification. FIG. 6(B) shows the principle of the gradient method.

In this illustrated example, a pixel having coordinates (x2i,y2i) on thesubject frame image Ft is located between coordinates (x1i,y1i) andcoordinates (x1i+1,y1i+1) on the base frame image Fr, that is, atcoordinates (x1i+Δx,y1i+Δy) between adjacent pixels.

As shown in the left drawing of FIG. 6(B), on the assumption that thepixel having coordinates (x2i,y2i) on the subject frame image Ft islocated between coordinates (x1i,y1i) and coordinates (x1i+1,y1i) on thebase frame image Fr, that is, at coordinates (x1i+Δx,y1i) betweenadjacent pixels,Px=B1(x1i+1,y1i)−B1(x1i,y1i)  (5)Equation (5) given above is rewritten as:Px·Δx=B2(x2i,y2i)−B1(x1i,y1i)  (6)The translational correction rate (Δx=u) in the lateral direction of thesubject frame image Ft is determined by computing Δx according toEquation (7) given below:{Px·Δx−(B2−B1)}²=0  (7)where B1 and B2 represent B1(x1i,y1i) and B2(x2i,y2i). The actualprocedure computes Δx with regard to all the pixels and averages thecomputed values Δx to determine the translational correction rate u inthe lateral direction.

In a similar manner, as shown in the right drawing of FIG. 6(B), on theassumption that the pixel having the coordinates (x2i,y2i) on thesubject frame image Ft is located between coordinates (x1i,y1i) andcoordinates (x1i,y1i+1) on the base frame image Fr, that is, atcoordinates (x1i,y1i+Δy) between adjacent pixels,Py=B1(x1i,y1i+1)−B1(x1i,y1i)  (8)Equation (8) given above is rewritten as:Py·Δy=B2(x2i,y2i)−B1(x1i,y1i)  (9)The translational correction rate (Δy=v) in the vertical direction ofthe subject frame image Ft is determined by computing Δy according toEquation (10) given below:{Py·Δy−(B2−B1)}²=0  (10)where B1 and B2 represent B1(x1i,y1i) and B2(x2i,y2i). The actualprocedure computes Δy with regard to all the pixels and averages thecomputed values Δy to determine the translational correction rate v inthe vertical direction.

The above description is on the assumption of a positional shift in onlyone of the x-axis direction (the lateral direction) and the y-axisdirection (the vertical direction). In the case of a positional shift inboth the x-axis direction and the y-axis direction, Δx and Δy thatminimize Equation (11) given below are computed by the least squaremethod:S ² =Σ{Px·Δx+Py·Δy−(B2−B1)}²  (11)The values (Δx,Δy) thus obtained are equivalent to the translationalcorrection rates (u,v).

This is the method of computing the translational correction rates (u,v)to translate the subject frame image Ft in both the x-axis direction andthe y-axis direction relative to the base frame image Fr prior tosuperposition. The subject frame image Ft is also rotationallytransferred relative to the base frame image Fr prior to superposition.The method of computing the rotational correction rate is describedbelow.

FIG. 7 is an explanatory drawing showing a rotational correction rate ofa certain pixel. A distance r between coordinates (x1,y1) and the originO on the base frame image Fr and a rotational angle θ from the x1 axisare given as:r=(x1² +y1²)^(1/2)  (12)θ=tan⁻¹(y1/x1)  (13)

It is here assumed that the subject frame image Ft does not have anytranslational shifts but has only a rotational shift relative to thebase frame image Fr. The pixel having the coordinates (x2i,y2i) on thesubject frame image Ft is located at coordinates (x1′,y1′) on the baseframe image Fr, which is rotated by a rotational correction rate δ fromthe coordinates (x1,y1). A distance Δx in the x1-axis direction and adistance Δy in the y1-axis direction by the rotational correction rate δare given as:Δx=x1′−x1≈−r·δsin θ=−δ·y1  (14)Δy=y1′−y1≈r−δ·cos θ=δ·x1  (15)

Combination of the translational correction rates (u,v) with therotational correction rate δ in Equations (14) and (15) gives the valuesΔx and Δy in Equation (11) as:Δx=u−δ·y1  (16)Δy=v+δ·x1  (17)

Substitution of Equations (16) and (17) into Equation (11) gives:S ² =Σ{Px·(u−δ·y)+Py·(v+δ·x)−(B2−B1)}²  (18)

Correction rates u, v, and δ that minimize S² in Equation (18) arecomputed by the least square method, where (x1i,y1i) represent thecoordinates on the base frame image Fr and the coordinate values and theluminance values of all the pixels included in the subject frame imageFt are substituted into Equation (18). Here ‘i’ denotes a numeralallocated to each pixel for the purpose of identification. Thecorrection rates u, v, and δ are expressed as:u={(m _(δ) ·M02−m _(v) ²)·c _(u)+(m _(u) ·m _(v) −m _(δ) ·M11)·c_(v)+(m_(v) ·M11−m _(u) ·M02)·c _(δ) }/d  (19)v={(m _(u) ·m _(v) −m _(δ) ·M11)·c _(u)+(m _(δ) ·M20−m _(u) ²)·c _(v)+(m_(u) ·M11−m _(v) ·M20)·c _(δ) }/d  (20)δ={(m _(v) ·M11−m _(v) ·M02)·c _(u)+(m _(u) ·M11−m _(v) ·M20)·c_(v)+(M20·M02−M11²)·c _(δ) }/d  (21)

Here M02, M11, M20, m_(u), m_(v), m_(δ), c_(u), c_(v), c_(δ), and d areexpressed as: $\begin{matrix}{{M20} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{Px}_{i}^{2}}} & (22) \\{{M11} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{{Px}_{i} \cdot {Py}_{i}}}} & (23) \\{{M02} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{Py}_{i}^{2}}} & (24) \\{m_{u} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{k_{i} \cdot {Px}_{i}}}} & (25) \\{m_{v} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{k_{i} \cdot {Py}_{i}}}} & (26) \\{m_{\delta} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}k_{i}^{2}}} & (27) \\{c_{u} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{{Px}_{i} \cdot {Pt}_{i}}}} & (28) \\{c_{v} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{{Py}_{i} \cdot {Pt}_{i}}}} & (29) \\{c_{\delta} = {\sum\limits_{i}^{\quad}{k_{i} \cdot {Pt}_{i}}}} & (30) \\{d = {{m_{\delta} \cdot \left( {{{M20} \cdot {M02}} - {M11}^{2}} \right)} - \left( {{m_{u}^{*}{M02}} - {2m_{u}^{*}{m_{v}^{*} \cdot {M11}}} + {m_{v}^{2} \cdot}} \right.}} & (31) \\\left. \quad{M20} \right) & \quad \\{{Pt}_{i} = {{B2} - {B1}}} & (32) \\{k_{i} = {{x_{i} \cdot {Py}_{i}} - {y_{i} \cdot {Px}_{i}}}} & (33)\end{matrix}$

The translational correction rates (u,v) and the rotational correctionrate (δ), which are used to eliminate translational shifts of less thanone pixel and a rotational shift between the subject frame image Ft andthe base frame image Fr, are computed with high accuracy according toEquations (18) to (33) given above by the least square method.

The translational correction rates and the rotational correction rateare estimated in the above manner in the event of translational shiftsof less than one pixel between the subject frame image Ft and the baseframe image Fr. The preferable procedure roughly corrects translationalshifts in the unit of one pixel according to the conventional patternmatching method, prior to execution of the above estimation technique.

D. Motion Follow-Up Composition Process of First Embodiment

For the clear explanation and the better understanding of the motionfollow-up composition technique of this embodiment, the outline and apotential problem of motion non-follow-up composition are describedfirst.

D1. Outline and Potential Problem of Motion Non-Follow-Up Composition

The composition process basically corrects subject frame image data withestimated correction rates to eliminate a positional shift of thesubject frame image data relative to base frame image data, andsuperposes the corrected subject frame image data on the base frameimage data to generate still image data. A preset interpolation isexecuted with regard to pixels that are neither in the base frame imagenor in the subject frame images among pixels constituting a resultingstill image (hereafter referred to as ‘constituent pixels’). The presetinterpolation uses pixel data representing pixel values of surroundingpixels that are present in the vicinity of the constituent pixels (thatis, tone data representing tone values). This basic composition processis described briefly with reference to FIGS. 8 and 9.

FIG. 8 is an explanatory drawing showing superposition of the correctedsubject frame images F1 to F3 on the base frame image F0 afterelimination of the positional shift. In the illustration of FIG. 8,closed circles, open boxes, and hatched boxes respectively representconstituent pixels of a resulting image G, pixels included in the baseframe image F0, and pixels included in the corrected subject frameimages F1 to F3. In the description of the motion non-follow-upcomposition technique and subsequent description of motion follow-upcomposition processes of the respective embodiments, the pixel densityof the resulting image G is increased to 1.5 times in both length andwidth relative to the pixel density of the base frame image F0. Theconstituent pixels of the resulting image G are positioned to overlapthe pixels of the base frame image F0 at intervals of every two pixelpositions. The positions of the constituent pixels of the resultingimage G are, however, not restricted to those overlapping the pixels ofthe base frame image F0 but may be determined according to variousrequirements. For example, all the pixels of the resulting image G maybe located in the middle of the respective pixels of the base frameimage F0. The rate of the resolution enhancement is not restricted to1.5 times in length and width but may be set arbitrarily according tothe requirements.

The following description mainly regards a certain pixel G(j) includedin the resulting image G. A variable ‘j’ gives numbers allocated todifferentiate all the pixels included in the resulting image G. Forexample, the number allocation may start from a leftmost pixel on anuppermost row in the resulting image G, sequentially go to a rightmostpixel on the uppermost row, and successively go from leftmost pixels torightmost pixels on respective rows to terminate at a rightmost pixel ona lowermost row. The composition process detects adjacent pixels F(0),F(1), F(2), and F(3) of the respective frame images F0, F1, F2, and F3adjoining to the certain pixel G(j) (hereafter referred to as the‘target pixel’), computes distances L0, L2, L2, and L3 between thedetected adjacent pixels F(0), F(1), F(2), and F(3) and the target pixelG(j), and selects the adjacent pixel having the shortest distance(hereafter referred to as the ‘nearest pixel’). In the illustratedexample of FIG. 8, L3<L1<L0<L2. The pixel F(3) of the subject frameimage F3 is accordingly selected as the nearest pixel to the targetpixel G(j). The nearest pixel to the target pixel G(j) is hereafterexpressed as F(3,i), which means the i-th pixel in the subject frameimage F3. Here the numeral ‘i’ is different from the numeral ‘i’allocated to each object pixel on the base frame image Fr in thecorrection rate estimation process described above.

This series of processing is repeatedly executed with regard to all theconstituent pixels included in the resulting image G in the order of thenumber allocated to the target pixel G(j), where j=1, 2, 3 . . . . toselect nearest pixels to all the constituent pixels.

Pixel data of each target pixel G(j) is generated from pixel data of theselected nearest pixel and pixel data of other pixels in the frame imageincluding the selected nearest pixel, which surround the target pixelG(j), by any of diverse interpolation techniques, for example, thebilinear method.

FIG. 9 is an explanatory drawing showing interpolation by the bilinearmethod. The target pixel G(j) is not present in any of the base frameimage F0 and the corrected subject frame images F1 to F3 afterelimination of the positional shift. The target pixel G(j) accordinglyhas no pixel data. The composition process draws a virtual area definedby three other pixels F(3,i+1), F(3,k), F(3,k+1) in the subject frameimage F3 surrounding the target pixel G(j), as well as by the nearestpixel F(3,i). The composition process then divides the virtual area intofour divisions by the target pixel G(j), multiplies the pixel data atthe respective diagonal positions by preset weights corresponding to thearea ratio, and sums up the weighted pixel data to interpolate the pixeldata of the target pixel G(j). Here k represents a numeral allocated toa pixel that is adjacent to the i-th pixel in the lateral direction ofthe subject frame image F3.

The technique of the interpolation is not restricted to the bilinearmethod, but any other suitable interpolation techniques, for example,the bicubic method and the nearest neighbor method, may be adopted forthe same purpose.

The motion non-follow-up composition technique described above may causea problem. FIG. 10 is an explanatory drawing showing a potential problemof the motion non-follow-up composition in the case of a significantlevel of motions between multiple frame images. The lower row of theillustration shows a resulting image G obtained by the motionnon-follow-up composition of four frame image F0 to F3 on the upper row.The four frame image F0 to F3 on the upper row show a moving picture ofan automobile that moves from the left to the right on the screen.Namely the position of the automobile sequentially shifts. The motionnon-follow-up composition makes interpolation of each target pixel withpixel data of a selected nearest pixel, whether the selected nearestpixel has motion or no motion between the frame images. The resultingimage G accordingly has partial image overlaps of an identicalautomobile as shown in FIG. 10.

The motion follow-up composition technique of the invention effectivelyprevents such partial image overlaps of an identical subject, asdiscussed below.

D2. Procedure of Motion Follow-Up Composition

FIG. 11 is a flowchart showing the details of a motion follow-upcomposition process. In the respective embodiments discussed below, aresulting image G is obtained by combining the four frame images F0 toF3 shown in FIG. 10 and by increasing the pixel density of 1.5 times inboth length and width relative to the base frame image F0 for theresolution enhancement.

The motion follow-up composition process first sets a target pixel G(j)among the constituent pixels of the resulting image G (step S602). Thevariable ‘j’ gives numbers allocated to differentiate all the pixelsincluded in the resulting image G. For example, the number allocationmay start from a leftmost pixel on an uppermost row in the resultingimage G, sequentially go to a rightmost pixel on the uppermost row, andsuccessively go from leftmost pixels to rightmost pixels on respectiverows to terminate at a rightmost pixel on a lowermost row.

The motion follow-up composition process then detects adjacent pixelsF(a,i) in respective frames ‘a’ having frame numbers of a variable ‘a’(a=0,1,2,3), which adjoin to the target pixel G(j) (step S604). Here thevariable ‘i’ represents numbers allocated to differentiate all thepixels and is different from the variable ‘i’ in the correction rateestimation process. The adjacent pixel F(a,i) in the frame ‘a’ isdetected by computing distances between respective pixels included inthe frame ‘a’ and the target pixel G(j) and selecting a pixel having theshortest distance.

The motion follow-up composition process subsequently selects anadjacent pixel F(a,i) having a minimum distance La (hereafter referredto as the ‘nearest pixel’) to the target pixel G(j) among the detectedadjacent pixels F(a,i) in the respective frames ‘a’, and sets the framenumber ‘a’ of the frame including the nearest pixel to a variable ‘A’(step S606).

The motion follow-up composition process determines whether the frame Ahaving the frame number of the variable ‘A’ is a base frame (step S608).In the description hereof, the four frame images F0 to F3 shown on theupper row of FIG. 10 are combined to the resulting image G. When theframe A is the base frame, that is, the frame 0, the processing flowgoes to step S614 described later. When the frame A is not the baseframe but is a subject frame, that is, one of the frames 1 to 3, themotion follow-up composition process determines whether the adjacentpixel F(A,i) in the frame A or the nearest pixel has motion or no motion(step S610). In response to detection of no motion of the nearest pixel,the processing flow goes to step S614. In response to detection of amotion of the nearest pixel, on the other hand, the frame number ‘a’ ofthe frame including another adjacent pixel F(a,i) having the secondshortest distance La is set to the variable A (step S612). Theprocessing of steps S608 through S612 is repeatedly executed until theframe A is determined to be the base frame or until the adjacent pixelF(A,i) in the frame A is detected to have no motion. The details of themotion detection will be discussed later.

When the frame A is determined to be the base frame or when the adjacentpixel F(A,i) as an object pixel of motion detection is detected to haveno motion, the motion follow-up composition process calculates aninterpolation value C′_(A)(P_(G)(j)) from the frame image FA of theframe A as the pixel value of the target pixel G(j) and sets thecalculated interpolation value C′_(A)(P_(G)(j)) to a variable ‘c’ (stepS614). Here C′_(A)(P_(G)( )) denotes a function of a selectedinterpolation technique, for example, the bilinear method or the bicubicmethod. The calculated interpolation value set in the variable ‘c’ isrecorded as a constituent pixel value C_(G)(j) of the target pixel G(j)(step S616).

The motion follow-up composition process determines whether the pixelvalue (pixel data) has been computed with regard to all the pixelsincluded in the resulting image G (step S618). When there is anyunprocessed pixel with no pixel value, the processing of steps S602through S618 is repeatedly executed while the target pixel G(j) issequentially shifted among the constituent pixels of the resulting imageG. The motion follow-up composition process is terminated when pixeldata has been computed with regard to all the pixels.

In the case of detection of a motion in a selected pixel to be used forinterpolation of the pixel value of a target pixel, the motion follow-upcomposition process of this embodiment does not make interpolation witha subject frame image including the selected pixel detected to have amotion. Interpolation is made with a subject frame image including aselected pixel detected to have no motion. In the event of detection ofa motion in all the subject frame images, interpolation is made with thebase frame image. The motion follow-up composition process of thisembodiment excludes the subject frame image including a selected pixeldetected to have a motion from the object frame of the interpolation.This arrangement thus desirably prevents partial image overlaps of anidentical moving subject, for example, the partial image overlaps of theidentical automobile shown in the resulting image of FIG. 10.

The motion follow-up composition process of this embodiment sequentiallyselects an adjacent pixel in the order of the shorter distance to thetarget pixel and detects the motion of the selected adjacent pixelrelative to the base image. Such selection is, however, not restrictiveat all, and the motion detection may be executed in any suitable order.One modified procedure may simply select the adjacent pixel in the orderof the frames 0, 1, 2, 3 for the motion detection. The motion follow-upcomposition process of this embodiment excludes the base frame includingthe selected adjacent pixel from the object of the motion detection. Thebase frame including the selected adjacent pixel may, however, beincluded in the object of the motion detection.

E. Motion Detection

Various methods are applicable to the motion detection executed at stepS610 in the flowchart of FIG. 11. Five available methods of the motiondetection are described here. FIG. 12 is an explanatory drawing showingsetting for description of the motion detection methods. One closed boxin FIG. 12 represents a pixel Fpt as an object of motion detection(hereafter referred to as ‘object pixel’) included in a correctedsubject frame image Ft. Four open boxes arranged in a lattice representfour pixels Fp1, Fp2, Fp3, and Fp4 in a base frame image Fr to surroundthe object pixel Fpt. The object pixel Fpt has a luminance value Vtest,and the four pixels Fp1, Fp2, Fp3, and Fp4 respectively have luminancevalues V1, V2, V3, and V4. A position (Δx,Δy) in the lattice on the baseframe image Fr is expressed by coordinates in a lateral axis ‘x’ and ina vertical axis ‘y’ in a value range of 0 to 1 relative to the positionof the upper left pixel Fp1 as the origin.

For the simplicity of explanation, it is assumed that the object pixelFpt has a one-dimensional position in the lattice on the base frameimage Fr and is expressed by coordinates (Δx,0) between the two pixelsFp1 and Fp2 aligned in the axis ‘x’.

E1. Motion Detection Method 1

FIG. 13 is an explanatory drawing showing a first motion detectionmethod. When an object pixel Fpt has no motion, the luminance valueVtest of the object pixel Fpt is equal to an estimated luminance valueV′, which is computed from luminance values of nearby pixels in the baseframe image Fr surrounding the object pixel Fpt by the bilinear method.When the object pixel Fpt has a motion, on the other hand, the luminancevalue Vtest of the object pixel Fpt is different from the estimatedluminance value V′ by a difference corresponding to a motion rate. Thesecharacteristics are used to detect motion or no motion of the objectpixel Fpt as described below.

The estimated luminance value V′ is calculated from the luminance valuesof pixels Fp1 and Fp2 in the base frame image Fr located adjacent to theobject pixel Fpt according to Equation (34) representing one-dimensionallinear interpolation:V′=(1−Δx)·V1+Δx·V2  (34)where V1 and V2 denotes the luminance values of the pixels Fp1 and Fp2in the base frame image Fr located adjacent to the object pixel Fpt, andΔx represents the position of the object pixel Fpt between the twopixels Fp1 and Fp2 in the x-axis direction relative to the left pixelFp1.

When the absolute value of the difference between the luminance valueVtest of the object pixel Fpt and the estimated luminance value V′ isnot smaller than a preset threshold value ΔVth, the object pixel Fpt isdetected as a pixel with motion. Namely a pixel satisfying the followingrelational expression is detected as a pixel with no motion, while apixel not satisfying the relational expression is detected as a pixelwith motion:|Vtest−V′|<ΔVth  (35)

The pixel satisfying Expression (35) given above (the absolute value ofthe difference between the luminance value Vtest and the estimatedluminance value V′ is smaller than the preset threshold value ΔVth) isdetected as the pixel with no motion, because of the following reason.As described above, the shift correction procedure executes correctionwith the estimated correction rates to eliminate the positional shift ofthe subject frame image Ft including the object pixel Fpt relative tothe base frame image Fr and superposes the corrected subject frame imageFt over the base frame image Fr. In the ideal state, the positionalshift between the frames is completely eliminated. In the actual state,however, complete elimination of the positional shift is practicallyimpossible. There is a superposition error or another noise. Even whenthe object pixel has no motion, there may thus be a difference betweenthe estimated luminance value V′ and the luminance value Vtest of theobject pixel Fpt.

In order to prevent such a noise-induced misdetection of the pixelmotion, the plus and minus spans of the threshold value ΔVth about theestimated luminance value V′ are specified as the no motion detectionrange.

The threshold value ΔVth is preferably set to about 3 when the luminancevalue may be in an 8-bit tone range, that is, in a range of 0 to 255.Such setting is, however, not restrictive at all, and the thresholdvalue ΔVth may be set to any appropriate value according to the tonenumber of the luminance value and the accuracy of the positional shiftcorrection.

In the example described above, the object pixel Fpt is assumed to havethe coordinates (Δx,0) relative to the position of the pixel Fp1 in thebase frame image Fr as the origin. The description is similarly appliedto the object pixel Fpt having the coordinates (0,Δy).

When the object pixel Fpt has two-dimensional coordinates (Δx,Δy), theestimated luminance value V′ may be calculated according to Equation(36) representing two-dimensional linear interpolation by the bilinearmethod:V′=(1−Δx)·(1−Δy)·V1+Δx·(1−Δy)·V2+(1−Δx)·Δy·V3+Δx·Δy·V4  (36)

The no motion detection range may be varied by varying the thresholdvalue ΔVth according to a time difference ‘m’ between each subject frameimage Ft including the object pixel Fpt and the base frame image Fr:ΔVth=Wt(m)·Vthr  (37)

Here ‘m’ denotes the time difference between the subject frame image Ftincluding the object pixel Fpt and the base frame image Ft on theassumption of a time interval 1′ between frames. Wt(m) represents a loadin the time difference ‘m’ and is equal to 1 in the time difference‘m’=0 and decreases with an increase in magnitude |m| of the timedifference ‘m’ from 0. The load-time difference characteristic curve mayhave a linear variation or a non-linear variation (for example, a normaldistribution). Vthr represents a reference level of the threshold valueΔVth in the time difference ‘m’=0. The reference value Vthr ispreferably set to about 8 when the luminance value may be in the 8-bittone range, that is, in the range of 0 to 255. Such setting is, however,not restrictive at all, and the reference value Vthr may be set to anyappropriate value according to the tone number of the luminance valueand the accuracy of the positional shift correction. The time difference‘m’ may be given as a difference between a frame number allocated to thesubject frame image Ft and a frame number allocated to the base frameimage Fr in the sequence of frames. Namely ‘m’ may be any parameterrepresenting the time difference between the subject frame image Ftincluding the object pixel Fpt and the base frame image Fr.

FIG. 14 is an explanatory drawing showing a variation in no motiondetection range against the time difference ‘m’. The illustrated exampleof FIG. 14 is on the assumption of the setting of the load Wt(m) givenby:Wt(m)=1−|m|·0.05  (38)

When m=1, that is, when the subject frame image Ft is the subject frameimage F1 of the frame 1 (see FIG. 10), the calculations of Equation (38)and Equation (37) respectively give the load Wt(1)=0.95 and thethreshold value ΔVth=(0.95·Vthr). The plus and minus spans of thethreshold value ΔVth (=0.95·Vthr) about the estimated luminance value V′are accordingly specified as the no motion detection range as shown inFIG. 14(A).

When m=3, that is, when the subject frame image Ft is the subject frameimage F3 of the frame 3 (see FIG. 10), the calculations of Equation (38)and Equation (37) respectively give the load Wt(3)=0.85 and thethreshold value ΔVth=(0.85·Vthr). The plus and minus spans of thethreshold value ΔVth (=0.85·Vthr) about the estimated luminance value V′are accordingly specified as the no motion detection range as shown inFIG. 14(B).

The no motion detection range is varied by varying the threshold valueΔVth according to the time difference ‘m’ between each subject frameimage Ft including the object pixel Fpt and the base frame image Fr inthis manner.

The consecutive frames of a moving picture generally have a gradualchange. It is thus highly probable that a subject frame image having agreater time difference in a sequence of frame images from the baseframe image has a more significant level of motion. This motiondetection method decreases the setting of the threshold value ΔVth andaccordingly narrows the specified no motion detection range with anincrease in time difference ‘m’ between the subject frame image Ft andthe base frame image Fr. This arrangement reduces the effect of themotion to a greater extent in the subject frame image having the greatertime difference in the sequence of frame images from the base frameimage on a resulting composite image.

The above description is on the premise that the frame image F0 of thehead frame among the four frame images F0 to F3 is the base frame imageand the frame images F1 to F3 of the subsequent frames 1 to 3 are thesubject frame images. In the illustrated example of FIG. 14, the timedifference ‘m’ accordingly has a positive numeral of not greater than 3.This premise is, however, not essential. When the base frame image isthe frame image F1 of the frame 1 or the frame image F2 of the frame 2,a subject frame image before the base frame image has a negative valueof the time difference ‘m’. When there are a greater number of frameimages than 4, the time difference ‘m’ has a numeral of greater than 3.In such cases, the load is set to have a characteristic change with avariation in time difference ‘m’ between 0 and a maximum.

E2. Motion Detection Method 2

FIG. 15 is an explanatory drawing showing a second motion detectionmethod. An object pixel in a subject frame is expected to have anintermediate luminance value between luminance values of adjacent pixelsin a base frame adjoining to the object pixel, unless there is aspatially abrupt change in luminance value. Based on such expectation, arange between a maximum and a minimum of the luminance values of theadjacent pixels close to the object pixel is assumed as the no motiondetection range. Like the first motion detection method, in order toprevent a noise-induced misdetection, the assumed no motion detectionrange may be extended by the span of the threshold value ΔVth. Thepresence of the luminance value Vtest of the object pixel Fpt out of orwithin the no motion detection range detects motion or no motion of theobject pixel Fpt, as described below.

A maximum Vmax and a minimum Vmin of the luminance values of two pixelsFp1 and Fp2 in the base frame adjoining to the object pixel Fpt arecomputed according to equations given below:Vmax=max(V1,V2)  (39)Vmin=min(V1,V2)  (40)

-   -   where max( ) and min( ) respectively represent a function of        determining a maximum among the elements in the brackets and a        function of determining a minimum among the elements in the        brackets.

The object pixel Fpt is detected as the pixel with motion when theluminance value Vtest of the object pixel Fpt satisfies the followingtwo relational expressions, while otherwise being detected as the pixelwith no motion:Vtest>Vmin−ΔVth  (41)Vtest<Vmax+ΔVth  (42)

In the example described above, the object pixel Fpt is assumed to havethe coordinates (Δx,0) relative to the position of the pixel Fpl in thebase frame image Fr as the origin. The description is similarly appliedto the object pixel Fpt having the coordinates (0,Δy).

With regard to the object pixel Fpt having the two dimensionalcoordinates (Δx,Δy), the maximum Vmax and the minimum Vmin of theluminance values are given by:Vmax=max(V1,V2,V3,V4)  (43)Vmin=min(V1,V2,V3,V4)  (44)E3. Motion Detection Method 3

FIG. 16 is an explanatory drawing showing a third motion detectionmethod. In the first motion detection method, an intermediate positionfarther from the respective pixels at the lattice points in the baseframe image Fr, that is, a position closer to the center betweenadjoining pixels, has a lower accuracy of the estimated luminance value.A possible technique of eliminating this drawback narrows the no motiondetection range at the positions closer to the respective pixels in thebase frame image Fr, while widening the no motion detection range at thepositions farther from the respective pixels in the base frame image Fr.Like the first motion detection method, it is preferable to set the plusand minus spans of the threshold value ΔVth to the no motion detectionrange even at the positions closer to the respective pixels in the baseframe image Fr. The presence of the luminance value Vtest of an objectpixel Fpt out of or within the no motion detection range detects motionor no motion of the object pixel Fpt, as described below.

An upper limit Vth_(U)(Δx) and a lower limit Vth_(L)(Δx) of the motiondetection about the estimated luminance value V′(Δx) obtained in thefirst motion detection method are defined as:Vth _(U)(Δx)=V′(Δx)+ΔVthmax·W(Δx)+ΔVth  (45)Vth _(L)(Δx)=V′(Δx)−ΔVthmax·W(Δx)−ΔVth  (46)

W(Δx) represents a function that gives a greater value at the positioncloser to the center, where Δx varies in a range of 0 to 1. For example,the function W(Δx) may be given as:W(Δx)=2·[1−{(1−Δx)² +Δx ²}]=4(1−Δx)Δx  (47)

Equation (45) given above is normalized to have the minimum value ‘O’and the maximum value ‘1’ of the function W, where Δx varies in a rangeof 0 to 1. The function expressed by Equation (47) is only an exampleand is not restrictive. W(Δx) may be any function that gives a greatervalue at the position closer to the center, where Δx varies in a rangeof 0 to 1.

ΔVthmax is expressed by:ΔVthmax=(Vmax−Vmin)/2  (48)

Here Vmax and Vmin represent the maximum and the minimum of theluminance values of the two pixels Fp1 and Fp2 in the base frameadjoining to the object pixel Fpt, which are computed according toEquations (39) and (40) given above in the second motion detectionmethod.

The object pixel Fpt is detected as the pixel with motion when theluminance value Vtest of the object pixel Fpt satisfies the followingtwo relational expressions, while otherwise being detected as the pixelwith no motion:Vtest>ΔVth _(L)(Δx)  (49)Vtest<ΔVth _(U)(Δx)  (50)

In the example described above, the object pixel Fpt is assumed to havethe coordinates (Δx,0) relative to the position of the pixelF(a_(R),i_(R)) in the base frame as the origin. The description issimilarly applied to the object pixel Fpt having the coordinates (0,Δy).

With regard to the object pixel Fpt having the two dimensionalcoordinates (Δx,Δy), Equation (47) is expanded to a two-dimensionalfunction W(Δx,Δy): $\begin{matrix}{{W\left( {{\Delta\quad x},{\Delta\quad y}} \right)} = {{\left( {4/3} \right) \cdot \left\lbrack {1 - \left\{ {{\left( {1 - {\Delta\quad x}} \right)^{2} \cdot \left( {1 - {\Delta\quad y}} \right)^{2}} + {\left( {\Delta\quad x} \right)^{2}\left( {1 - {\Delta\quad y}} \right)^{2}} + {\left( {1 + {\Delta\quad x}} \right)^{2} \cdot \left( {\Delta\quad y} \right)^{2}} + {\left( {\Delta\quad x} \right)^{2} \cdot \left( {\Delta\quad y} \right)^{2}}} \right\}} \right\rbrack} = {\left( {4/3} \right) \cdot \left\lbrack {1 - {\left( {1 - {2\Delta\quad x} + {2\left( {\Delta\quad x} \right)^{2}}} \right) \cdot \left( {1 - {2\Delta\quad y} + {2\left( {\Delta\quad y} \right)^{2}}} \right)}} \right\rbrack}}} & (51)\end{matrix}$

Here Vmax and Vmin represent the maximum and the minimum of theluminance values of the two pixels Fp1 and Fp2 in the base frameadjoining to the object pixel Fpt, which are computed according toEquations (43) and (44) given above in the second motion detectionmethod.

In the case of the object pixel Fpt having the two-dimensionalcoordinates (Δx,Δy), the upper limit Vth_(U)(Δx,Δy) may be greater thanthe maximum luminance value Vmax, while the lower limit Vth_(L)(Δx,Δy)may be smaller than the minimum luminance value Vmin. In order toprohibit the luminance values out of the range between the minimum Vminand the maximum Vmax, restriction of the upper limit Vth_(U)(Δx,Δy) asgiven blow is desirable under the condition of Vth_(U)(Δx,Δy)>Vmax+ΔVth,Vth _(U)(Δx,Δy)=Vmax+ΔVthnoise  (52)Similarly restriction of the lower limit Vth_(L)(Δx,Δy) as given blow isdesirable under the condition of Vth_(L)(Δx,Δy)<Vmin−ΔVthnoise,Vth _(L)(Δx,Δy)=Vmin−ΔVthnoise  (53)E4. Motion Detection Method 4

FIG. 17 is an explanatory drawing showing a fourth motion detectionmethod. There is generally a high potential of motion when an overallpositional shift in the whole image does not match with a localpositional shift in part of the image. By taking into account this fact,this motion detection method assumes a fixed luminance gradient betweentwo pixels Fp1 and Fp2 in the base frame adjoining to an object pixelFpt and computes a position X_(M) of a pixel FM having a luminance valueV_(M) that is identical with the luminance value Vtest of the objectpixel Fpt (hereafter the pixel F_(M) is referred to as the estimatedpixel and the distance X_(M) is referred to as the estimated distance).A distance between the estimated position X_(M) and a potentiallyvarying position by the overall positional shift in the whole image isset to a threshold value Lth. Comparison of a distance L_(M) between theobject pixel Fpt and the estimated pixel F_(M) with the threshold valueLth detects motion or no motion of the object pixel Fpt.

The second motion detection method is applied first to detect motion orno motion of the object pixel Fpt in the subject frame image Ft. Inresponse to detection of no motion, the following motion detection isfurther carried out.

On the assumption of a fixed luminance gradient between the two pixelsFp1 and Fp2 in the base frame image Fr adjoining to the object pixelFpt, the estimated position X_(M) having the estimated luminance valueV_(M) that is identical with the luminance value Vtest of the objectpixel Fpt is computed. The distance L_(M) between the position X of theobject pixel Fpt and the estimated position X_(M) of the estimated pixelF_(M) is given by:L _(M) =|X _(M) −X|=|(Vtest−V1)/(V2−V1)−Δx|  (54)

The distance L_(M) thus calculated is compared with the threshold valueLth. The object pixel Fpt is determined to have a motion when L_(M)>Lth,while being otherwise determined to have no motion.

In the example described above, the object pixel Fpt is assumed to havethe coordinates (Δx,0) relative to the position of the pixel Fp1 in thebase frame image Fr as the origin. The description is similarly appliedto the object pixel Fpt having the coordinates (0,Δy).

With regard to the object pixel Fpt having the two dimensionalcoordinates (Δx,Δy), the motion detection method maps the luminancevalue Vtest onto the object pixel Fpt in both the direction of the ‘x’axis (lateral direction) and the direction of the ‘y’ axis (verticaldirection) relative to the position of the pixel Fp1 in the base frameimage Fr as the origin, prior to the motion detection. The object pixelFpt is detected as the pixel with motion in response to a detectedmotion in at least one of the direction of the ‘x’ axis and thedirection of the ‘y’ axis, while otherwise the object pixel Fpt isdetected as the pixel with no motion.

E5. Motion Detection Method 5

In the fourth motion detection method, the threshold value Lth may bevaried according to target frame images to be composed. For example, thethreshold value Lth is narrowed for frame images with a significantlevel of motions to reduce the image composition effect of multipleframes, while being widened for frame images with a low level of motionsto enhance the image composition effect of multiple frames.

For example, in the case of composition of frame images of four frames,there are three subject frames, which go through the following series ofprocessing.

The fourth motion detection method is applied to the motion detectionwith a preset standard threshold value Lth with regard to all the pixelsincluded in all the subject frames (three frames). The method thencounts the number of pixels NM detected as the pixel with motion.

A ratio R of pixels detected as the pixel with motion is calculated as:R=N _(M) /N _(total)  (55)where N_(total) denotes the total number of pixels in the three subjectframes.

The threshold value Lth is varied with the calculated ratio R accordingto the following equation, and the fourth motion detection method isapplied to detect motion or no motion of each object pixel:Lth=1−R ^(1/2)  (56)

For example, when R=0.25, Lth=0.5 pixels.

Equation (56) is not restrictive but is only an example of calculatingthe threshold value varying with a variation in ratio R of the pixelsdetected as the pixel with motion. Any other suitable equation mayotherwise be applied corresponding to the object of the processing.

Any of these motion detection methods described above may be applied tostep 610 in FIG. 11. Selection of the motion detection method dependsupon various motion-relevant characteristics of a target image as theobject of the motion detection, for example, the level of motion and thesize of a moving part. The selected motion detection method may bechanged according to the target image.

F. Motion Follow-Up Composition Process of Second Embodiment

FIG. 18 is a flowchart showing the details of a motion follow-upcomposition process executed in a second embodiment. Like the process ofthe first embodiment (step S602 in FIG. 11), the motion follow-upcomposition process of the second embodiment first sets a target pixelG(j) among the constituent pixels of a resulting image G (step S702).

Like the process of the first embodiment (step S604 in FIG. 11), themotion follow-up composition process of the second embodiment detectsadjacent pixels F(a,i) in respective frames ‘a’ having frame numbers ofa variable ‘a’ (a=0,1,2,3), which adjoin to the target pixel G(j) (stepS704).

The motion follow-up composition process subsequently selects one ofsubject frames other than a specified base frame as a first subjectframe and sets the frame number ‘a’ of the selected first subject frameto a variable a_(T) (step S706). For example, the frame 1 is selected asthe first subject frame, and the frames 2 and 3 are sequentiallyselected as subsequent subject frames at step S712 described later. Thisselection sequence is, however, not essential. Any subject frame may beselected as the first subject frame, and subsequent subject frames maybe selected in any order.

The motion follow-up composition process sets the adjacent pixelF(a_(T),i) in a frame aT having the frame number of the variable a_(T),which adjoins to the target pixel G(j), to an object pixel anddetermines whether the object pixel has motion or no motion (step S708).Any of the motion detection methods described above may be applied tothis motion detection.

In response to detection of a motion of the object pixel at step S708,the processing flow goes to step S718 described later. In response todetection of no motion of the object pixel, on the other hand, themotion follow-up composition process determines whether there is anynon-selected subsequent subject frame (step S710). In the absence of anysubsequent subject frame, the processing flow goes to step S714described later.

In the presence of any subsequent subject frame at step S710, on theother hand, the motion follow-up composition process selects a nextsubject frame and sets the frame number ‘a’ of the selected subjectframe to the variable a_(T) (step S712). The processing of steps S708 toS712 is repeatedly executed until detection of a motion of the adjacentpixel F(a_(T),i) in the frame a_(T) having the frame number of thevariable a_(T) or in the absence of any subsequent subject frame, thatis, until detection of no motion of the adjacent pixels in all thesubject frames.

When there is no subsequent subject frame at step S710, that is, when nomotion is detected in the respective adjacent pixels in all the subjectframes, the motion follow-up composition process selects a nearest pixelhaving a minimum distance La to the target pixel G(j) among the adjacentpixels F(a,i), and sets the frame number ‘a’ of the frame including thenearest pixel to a variable ‘A’ (step S714). The motion follow-upcomposition process then calculates an interpolation valueC′_(A)(P_(G)(j)) from the frame image FA of the frame A as the pixelvalue of the target pixel G(j) and sets the calculated interpolationvalue C′_(A)(P_(G)(j)) to a variable ‘c’ (step S716).

In response to detection of a motion at step S708, the motion follow-upcomposition process calculates an interpolation value C′a_(R)(P_(G)(j))from a base frame image Fa_(R) as the pixel value of the target pixelG(j) and sets the calculated interpolation value C′a_(R)(P_(G)(j)) tothe variable ‘c’ (step S718).

The calculated interpolation value set in the variable ‘c’ is recordedas a constituent pixel value C_(G)(j) of the target pixel G(j) (stepS720).

Any of the diverse interpolation techniques, such as the bilinear methodand the bicubic method, may be applied to calculation of theinterpolation value as in step S614 of FIG. 11 described in the firstembodiment.

The motion follow-up composition process determines whether the pixelvalue (pixel data) has been computed with regard to all the pixelsincluded in the resulting image G (step S722). When there is anyunprocessed pixel with no pixel value, the processing of steps S702through S722 is repeatedly executed while the target pixel G(j) issequentially shifted among the constituent pixels of the resulting imageG. The motion follow-up composition process is terminated when pixeldata has been computed with regard to all the pixels.

In the case of detection of a motion in a selected pixel to be used forinterpolation of the pixel value of a target pixel G(j), the motionfollow-up composition process of the second embodiment does not makeinterpolation with a subject frame image including the selected pixeldetected to have a motion, in the same manner as the first embodiment.In this case, interpolation is made with a base frame image in thesecond embodiment. The motion follow-up composition process of thisembodiment also excludes the subject frame image including a selectedpixel detected to have a motion from the object frame of theinterpolation. This arrangement thus desirably prevents partial imageoverlaps of an identical moving subject, for example, the partial imageoverlaps of the identical automobile shown in the resulting image ofFIG. 10.

The motion follow-up composition process of the first embodiment makesinterpolation with a subject frame image in a subject frame includingthe object pixel detected as the pixel with no motion, even when theobject pixel in another subject frame is detected as the pixel withmotion. The motion follow-up composition of the second embodiment, onthe other hand, does not execute motion detection in the other subjectframes but makes interpolation with the base frame image in the baseframe, when the object pixel in one subject frame is detected as thepixel with motion. The arrangement of the second embodiment has therelatively limited effect of quality enhancement of the resulting image,while more effectively preventing the problem of the prior arttechnique, that is, the potential occurrence of partial image overlapsof an identical moving subject, compared with the arrangement of thefirst embodiment.

The motion follow-up composition process of the first embodiment makesinterpolation based on a subject frame detected to have no motion, evenwhen another subject frame is detected to have a motion. Thisarrangement of the first embodiment is expected to have the greaterquality enhancement effect than the arrangement of the secondembodiment.

G. Motion Follow-Up Composition Process of Third Embodiment

FIG. 19 is a flowchart showing the details of a motion follow-upcomposition process executed in a third embodiment. Like the process ofthe first embodiment (step S602 in FIG. 11), the motion follow-upcomposition process of the third embodiment first sets a target pixelG(j) among the constituent pixels of a resulting image G (step S802).

Like the process of the first embodiment (step S604 in FIG. 11), themotion follow-up composition process of the second embodiment detectsadjacent pixels F(a,i) in respective frames ‘a’ having frame numbers ofa variable ‘a’ (a=0,1,2,3), which adjoin to the target pixel G(j) (stepS804).

The motion follow-up composition process determines whether an adjacentpixel F(a_(TEST),i) in a frame a_(TEST) having a predetermined framenumber a_(TEST) of the variable ‘a’, which adjoins to the target pixelG(j), has motion or no motion (step S806). Any of the motion detectionmethods described above may be applied to this motion detection.

In response to detection of a motion of the adjacent pixel at step S806,the processing flow goes to step S812 described later. In response todetection of no motion, on the other hand, the motion follow-upcomposition process selects a nearest pixel having a minimum distance Lato the target pixel G(j) among the adjacent pixels F(a,i), and sets theframe number ‘a’ of the frame including the nearest pixel to a variable‘A’ (step S808). The motion follow-up composition process thencalculates an interpolation value C′_(A)(P_(G)(j)) from the frame imageFA of the frame A as the pixel value of the target pixel G(j) and setsthe calculated interpolation value C′_(A)(P_(G)(j)) to a variable ‘c’(step S810).

In response to detection of a motion at step S804, the motion follow-upcomposition process calculates an interpolation value C′a_(R)(P_(G)(j))from a base frame image Fa_(R) of a frame number a_(R) as the pixelvalue of the target pixel G(j) and sets the calculated interpolationvalue C′a_(R)(P_(G)(j)) to the variable ‘c’ (step S812).

The calculated interpolation value set in the variable ‘c’ is recordedas a constituent pixel value C_(G)(j) of the target pixel G(j) (stepS814).

Any of the diverse interpolation techniques, such as the bilinear methodand the bicubic method, may be applied to calculation of theinterpolation value as in step S614 of FIG. 11 described in the firstembodiment.

The motion follow-up composition process determines whether the pixelvalue (pixel data) has been computed with regard to all the pixelsincluded in the resulting image G (step S816). When there is anyunprocessed pixel with no pixel value, the processing of steps S802through S816 is repeatedly executed while the target pixel G(j) issequentially shifted among the constituent pixels of the resulting imageG. The motion follow-up composition process is terminated when pixeldata has been computed with regard to all the pixels.

As described above, the motion follow-up composition process of thethird embodiment detects motion or no motion of an object pixel in aspecific subject frame and makes interpolation with a base frame imagein response to detection of a motion. The motion follow-up compositionprocess of this embodiment also excludes the subject frame imageincluding a selected pixel detected to have a motion from the objectframe of the interpolation. This arrangement thus desirably preventspartial image overlaps of an identical moving subject, for example, thepartial image overlaps of the identical automobile shown in theresulting image of FIG. 10.

The motion follow-up composition process of the second embodiment mayexecute the motion detection with regard to all the subject frames. Theresults of the motion detection generally have a strong correction. Themotion follow-up composition process of the third embodiment accordinglyexecutes the motion detection with regard to only a specified subjectframe. This effectively shortens the total processing time, comparedwith the processing flows of the other embodiments. A frame having agreatest time difference from the base frame is desirably selected asthe specified subject frame.

H. Modifications

The embodiments and their modified examples discussed above are to beconsidered in all aspects as illustrative and not restrictive. There maybe many other modifications, changes, and alterations without departingfrom the scope or spirit of the main characteristics of the presentinvention. Some examples of possible modification are given below.

(1) In the embodiments discussed above, in response to selection of aspecific instance during the reproduction of a moving picture, the frameimage acquisition module 104 obtains frame image data of four frames,which include a frame of the selected instance as a base frame andsubsequent three frames aligned in a time series after the base frame.The frame image data may be obtained from the base frame and precedentthree frames aligned in a time series before the base frame, or from thebase frame and a total of three other frames aligned in a time seriesbefore and after the base frame. The number of frames is not limited to4. The procedure may obtain frame image data of multiple frames of notless than 2 and generate still image data from the obtained frame imagedata of the multiple frames.

(2) In the embodiments discussed above, the procedure obtains frameimage data of multiple frames and generates still image data from theobtained frame image data of the multiple frames. This is, however, notessential at all. One modified procedure may obtain image data ofmultiple frames in the form of image data of multiple fieldsconstituting one frame (field image data) and generates still image datafrom the obtained field image data of the multiple fields.

(3) In the embodiments discussed above, the procedure detects motion orno motion of each object pixel included in a resulting image, which isgenerated by combining multiple frame images, and selects a frame imageusable for calculation of a pixel value and generation of pixel data ofthe object pixel. This procedure is, however, not restrictive at all.One modified procedure may detect motion or no motion of each pixel ineach subject frame image relative to a base frame image and select aframe image usable for calculation of a pixel value and generation ofpixel data of each pixel in a resulting image, based on the results ofthe motion detection.

(4) In the embodiments discussed above, one high-resolution still image(expressed by still image data) is generated by combining images(expressed by image data) of multiple consecutive frames in a timeseries extracted among a moving picture (expressed by moving picturedata). The technique of the invention is, however, not restricted tothis example. One high-resolution image may be generated by combiningmultiple consecutive low-resolution images in a time series. Themultiple consecutive low-resolution images in the time period may be,for example, multiple consecutive images serially taken with a digitalcamera.

The multiple consecutive low-resolution images (including frame images)in the time series may be replaced by multiple low-resolution imagessimply arrayed in the time series.

(5) In the embodiments discussed above, the motion detection is carriedwith regard to one specified pixel in multiple frame images to generatepixel data of each target pixel included in a resulting image. Onepossible modification of the motion detection may divide each frameimage into multiple blocks and detect motion or no motion of each blockin a subject frame image relative to the corresponding block in a baseframe image, prior to generation of pixel data of each target pixelincluded in a resulting image. The pixel data of the respective pixelsincluded in each block of the resulting image detected as a block withmotion are generated based on the base frame image. Any of diversemethods of computing the motion rate between multiple frames may beapplied to the motion detection in each block.

(6) Part of the hardware configuration in any of the above embodimentsmay be replaced by equivalent software configuration, whereas part ofthe software configuration in any of the above embodiments may bereplaced by equivalent hardware configuration. For example, the seriesof processing by the still image generation control module, thecorrection rate estimation module, and the motion follow-up compositionmodule shown in FIG. 1 may be executed by hardware circuits.

(7) In the embodiments discussed above, the personal computer is used asthe still image generation apparatus of the invention. The still imagegeneration apparatus of the invention is, however, not limited to thepersonal computer but may be actualized by any of various computersystems included in, for example, digital video cameras, digital stillcameras, and printers. A digital video camera constructed as the stillimage generation apparatus of the invention shoots a moving picture andgenerates one high-resolution still image from multiple frame imagesincluded in the moving picture simultaneously with the shooting orchecking the results of shooting. A digital still camera constructed asthe still image generation apparatus of the invention serially takespictures of a subject and generates one high-resolution still image frommultiple continuous images of the serially taken pictures simultaneouslywith the continuous shooting or checking the results of continuousshooting.

Finally the present application claims the priority based on JapanesePatent Application No. 2003-339907 filed on Sep. 30, 2003 and JapanesePatent Application No. 2004-208580 filed on Jul. 15, 2004, which areherein incorporated by reference.

1. A still image generation method of generating a relativelyhigh-resolution second image from multiple relatively low-resolutionfirst images, the still image generation method comprising the steps of(a) estimating a correction rate for elimination of a positional shiftbetween the multiple first images; and (b) executing correction with theestimated correction rate to eliminate the positional shift between themultiple first images and combining the multiple corrected first imagesto generate the second image, the step (b) comprising the steps of: (b1)selecting a target pixel among pixels included in the second image; (b2)detecting multiple adjacent pixels respectively in the multiple firstimages, which adjoin to the selected target pixel; and (b3) selecting animage as a composition object or a composition object image with regardto the target pixel among the multiple first images according to themultiple adjacent pixels, and calculating a pixel value of the targetpixel based on the composition object image, wherein the step (b3)excludes the first image that includes a certain adjacent pixel out ofthe multiple adjacent pixels, which is detected to have a motionrelative to one base image selected among the multiple first images,from the composition object image with regard to the target pixel.
 2. Astill image generation method in accordance with claim 1, wherein themultiple first images are multiple images extracted from a movingpicture and arrayed in a time series.
 3. A still image generation methodin accordance with claim 1, wherein the step (b3) comprises the steps of(b31) sequentially selecting an adjacent pixel that is not included inthe base image among the multiple adjacent pixels in an order closer tothe target pixel and detecting motion or no motion of the selected pixelrelative to the base image; and (b32) when the first image including anearest pixel having a shortest distance to the target pixel among themultiple adjacent pixels is the base image, calculating the pixel valueof the target pixel based on the base image, the step (b32) calculatingthe pixel value of the target pixel based on the first image includingthe selected pixel detected as a pixel with no motion in the step (b31),while calculating the pixel value of the target pixel based on the baseimage when every selected adjacent pixel is detected as a pixel withmotion in the step (b31).
 4. A still image generation method inaccordance with claim 1, wherein the step (b3) comprises the steps of(b31) sequentially selecting an adjacent pixel that is not included inthe base image among the multiple adjacent pixels in a preset order anddetecting motion or no motion of the selected pixel relative to the baseimage; and (b32) calculating the pixel value of the target pixel basedon the base image when the selected pixel is detected as a pixel withmotion in the step (b31), while calculating the pixel value of thetarget pixel based on the first image including a nearest pixel to thetarget pixel among the multiple adjacent pixels when every selectedadjacent pixel is detected as a pixel with no motion in the step (b31).5. A still image generation method in accordance with claim 1, whereinthe step (b3) comprises the steps of: (b31) sequentially selecting anadjacent pixel that is included in a specific first image other than thebase image, among the multiple adjacent pixels and detecting motion orno motion of the selected pixel relative to the base image; and (b32)calculating the pixel value of the target pixel based on the base imagewhen the selected pixel is detected as a pixel with motion in the step(b31), while calculating the pixel value of the target pixel based onthe first image including a nearest pixel to the target pixel among themultiple adjacent pixels when the selected pixel is detected as a pixelwith no motion in the step (b31).
 6. A still image generation method inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the step (b31) detects the selectedpixel as the pixel with no motion when a luminance value of the selectedpixel is within a predetermined range relative to an estimated luminancevalue, which is calculated from luminance values of multiple nearbypixels in the base image surrounding the selected pixel, while detectingthe selected pixel as the pixel with motion when the luminance value ofthe selected pixel is out of the predetermined range.
 7. A still imagegeneration method in accordance with claim 6, wherein the predeterminedrange has a fixed span set about the estimated luminance value.
 8. Astill image generation method in accordance with claim 7, wherein thepredetermined range varies corresponding to a time difference of thefirst image including the selected pixel relative to the base image. 9.A still image generation method in accordance with claim 6, wherein thepredetermined range has a fixed span between a minimum luminance valueand a maximum luminance value out of the luminance values of themultiple nearby pixels in the base image surrounding the selected pixel.10. A still image generation method in accordance with claim 6, whereinthe predetermined range varies depending upon a position of the selectedpixel relative to the multiple nearby pixels in the base imagesurrounding the selected pixel.
 11. A still image generation method inaccordance with claim 3, wherein the step (b31) computes an estimatedposition of a pixel having a luminance value that is calculated fromluminance values of multiple nearby pixels in the base image surroundingthe selected pixel and is identical with a luminance value of theselected pixel, and detects the selected pixel as the pixel with nomotion when a distance between a position of the selected pixel and theestimated position is within a predetermined range, while detecting theselected pixel as the pixel with motion when the distance between theposition of the selected pixel and the estimated position is out of thepredetermined range.
 12. A still image generation method in accordancewith claim 11, wherein the predetermined range has a fixed span aboutthe estimated position with setting of a variation in estimatedposition, which varies corresponding to the positional shift, as athreshold value.
 13. A still image generation method in accordance withclaim 4, wherein the step (b31) detects the selected pixel as the pixelwith no motion when a luminance value of the selected pixel is within apredetermined range relative to an estimated luminance value, which iscalculated from luminance values of multiple nearby pixels in the baseimage surrounding the selected pixel, while detecting the selected pixelas the pixel with motion when the luminance value of the selected pixelis out of the predetermined range.
 14. A still image generation methodin accordance with claim 13, wherein the predetermined range has a fixedspan set about the estimated luminance value.
 15. A still imagegeneration method in accordance with claim 14, wherein the predeterminedrange varies corresponding to a time difference of the first imageincluding the selected pixel relative to the base image.
 16. A stillimage generation method in accordance with claim 13, wherein thepredetermined range has a fixed span between a minimum luminance valueand a maximum luminance value out of the luminance values of themultiple nearby pixels in the base image surrounding the selected pixel.17. A still image generation method in accordance with claim 13, whereinthe predetermined range varies depending upon a position of the selectedpixel relative to the multiple nearby pixels in the base imagesurrounding the selected pixel.
 18. A still image generation method inaccordance with claim 4, wherein the step (b31) computes an estimatedposition of a pixel having a luminance value that is calculated fromluminance values of multiple nearby pixels in the base image surroundingthe selected pixel and is identical with a luminance value of theselected pixel, and detects the selected pixel as the pixel with nomotion when a distance between a position of the selected pixel and theestimated position is within a predetermined range, while detecting theselected pixel as the pixel with motion when the distance between theposition of the selected pixel and the estimated position is out of thepredetermined range.
 19. A still image generation method in accordancewith claim 18, wherein the predetermined range has a fixed span aboutthe estimated position with setting of a variation in estimatedposition, which varies corresponding to the positional shift, as athreshold value.
 20. A still image generation method in accordance withclaim 5, wherein the step (b31) detects the selected pixel as the pixelwith no motion when a luminance value of the selected pixel is within apredetermined range relative to an estimated luminance value, which iscalculated from luminance values of multiple nearby pixels in the baseimage surrounding the selected pixel, while detecting the selected pixelas the pixel with motion when the luminance value of the selected pixelis out of the predetermined range.
 21. A still image generation methodin accordance with claim 20, wherein the predetermined range has a fixedspan set about the estimated luminance value.
 22. A still imagegeneration method in accordance with claim 21, wherein the predeterminedrange varies corresponding to a time difference of the first imageincluding the selected pixel relative to the base image.
 23. A stillimage generation method in accordance with claim 20, wherein thepredetermined range has a fixed span between a minimum luminance valueand a maximum luminance value out of the luminance values of themultiple nearby pixels in the base image surrounding the selected pixel.24. A still image generation method in accordance with claim 20, whereinthe predetermined range varies depending upon a position of the selectedpixel relative to the multiple nearby pixels in the base imagesurrounding the selected pixel.
 25. A still image generation method inaccordance with claim 5, wherein the step (b31) computes an estimatedposition of a pixel having a luminance value that is calculated fromluminance values of multiple nearby pixels in the base image surroundingthe selected pixel and is identical with a luminance value of theselected pixel, and detects the selected pixel as the pixel with nomotion when a distance between a position of the selected pixel and theestimated position is within a predetermined range, while detecting theselected pixel as the pixel with motion when the distance between theposition of the selected pixel and the estimated position is out of thepredetermined range.
 26. A still image generation method in accordancewith claim 25, wherein the predetermined range has a fixed span aboutthe estimated position with setting of a variation in estimatedposition, which varies corresponding to the positional shift, as athreshold value.
 27. A still image generation apparatus that generates arelatively high-resolution second image from multiple relativelylow-resolution first images, the still image generation apparatuscomprising: a correction rate estimation module that estimates acorrection rate for elimination of a positional shift between themultiple first images; and an image generation module that executescorrection with the estimated correction rate to eliminate thepositional shift between the multiple first images and combines themultiple corrected first images to generate the second image, the imagegeneration module selecting a target pixel among pixels included in thesecond image, detecting multiple adjacent pixels respectively in themultiple first images, which adjoin to the selected target pixel,selecting an image as a composition object or a composition object imagewith regard to the target pixel among the multiple first imagesaccording to the multiple adjacent pixels, and calculating a pixel valueof the target pixel based on the composition object image, and excludingthe first image that includes a certain adjacent pixel out of themultiple adjacent pixels, which is detected to have a motion relative toone base image selected among the multiple first images, from thecomposition object image with regard to the target pixel.
 28. A computerprogram product that is used to generate a relatively high-resolutionsecond image from multiple relatively low-resolution first images, thecomputer program product comprising: a first program code of estimatinga correction rate for elimination of a positional shift between themultiple first images; a second program code of executing correctionwith the estimated correction rate to eliminate the positional shiftbetween the multiple first images and combining the multiple correctedfirst images to generate the second image; and a computer readablemedium in which the first program code and the second program code arestored, the second program code comprising: a third program code ofselecting a target pixel among pixels included in the second image; afourth program code of detecting multiple adjacent pixels respectivelyin the multiple first images, which adjoin to the selected target pixel;and a fifth program code of selecting an image as a composition objector a composition object image with regard to the target pixel among themultiple first images according to the multiple adjacent pixels,calculating a pixel value of the target pixel based on the compositionobject image, and excluding the first image that includes a certainadjacent pixel out of the multiple adjacent pixels, which is detected tohave a motion relative to one base image selected among the multiplefirst images, from the composition object image with regard to thetarget pixel.